Guadeloupe
Popularly known as the ‘The Island of Beautiful Waters’ Guadeloupe ’s ‘beautiful waters’ are now the island’s major attraction for overseas visitors. Moving around the islands is done quite easily by public bus, which operates frequently from morning to evening, except Sundays, when the bus service is only attainable on major routes. Taxi’s are also in abundance but can cost an arm and a leg! Car, motorcycle and bicycle rental are other good options and can be rented from the main tourist areas. Anyone wanting to does some island hopping though can grab a ferry or flight, with of course, the flights being a much faster option.
Guadalupe is comprises of two large islands, Basse Terre and Grande Terre, and several smaller ones, of which St Martin is shared with the Dutch kingdom. In 1763 the isles came under French rule and they still occupy the island, now mainly as tourists. Pack a French dictionary if you plan a trip here for it’s still a part of France . The people and culture is a harmonious blend of European, African and East Indian origin.
Major attraction are Pointe-à-Pitre, the capital city, where the major hub of activity lies, unlike the contrasting capital of Basse-Terre, named after the island, a laid back town situated on the far-flung south-western side of Guadeloupe. Other attractions are Guadeloupe National Park , La Désirade, Marie Galante, Saint François, Terre de Haut. Whether you want to relax on the beach, enjoy a swim in the warm Caribbean, or test your surfing skills on one of the island’s first-rate surfing spots, you should basically count on spending most of your time in, on, or next to the water. Of course, a hiking excursion to the summit of La Soufrière, Guadeloupe ’s active volcano, is a must.
Related Travel Information
Political status
France and the Netherlands agreed to divide the island on November 11, 1648.
Sint Maarten is part of the Netherlands Antilles, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands though not in the European Union. Its currency is the Antillean Guilder. A proposed restructuring of the Netherlands Antilles would see Sint Maarten become an independent component of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in its own right.
Saint-Martin is part of Guadeloupe, which is an overseas department of France and therefore in the European Union. The official currency in Saint-Martin is the Euro. In 2003 the population of the French part
Guadeloupe
Grenada is popularly known as the "Isle of Spices" having soil so rich that a few dropped seeds and you have an instant garden. Grenada the ultimate relaxation island. Which is not to say that there's little to do here? Diving, swimming and snorkelling are afforded by the beaches; the pristine waters of the Caribbean make for superb sailing, making a trip to one of the smaller islands all the more enjoyable; and the inland of the big island is fertile ground for hiking, with dense rainforests creating an engaging challenge.
Alive with traditional music, jovial people and perfumed air, Grenada
Saint Martin is a tropical island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 150 miles east of Puerto Rico. The 88 km² (38 square-mile) island is divided roughly in half between France and the Netherlands: the southern, Dutch half is called Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; the northern, French half is called Saint-Martin and is part of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. Collectively, the two territories are known as, "St.-Martin/St. Maarten", "St. Martins", or simply, "SXM". (SXM is the IATA identifier for Princess Juliana International Airport, the island's main airport.)
Saint-Martin
This is the french side of the island of St Martin (french) / St Maarten (dutch). Situated in the North Eastern Caribbean, between Anguilla, Saint Barths, Statia and Saba, it is administratively a commune of Guadeloupe . St. Martin is often wrongly claimed to be the smallest territory in the world shared by two countries and the only one divided without a frontier (A much smaller island in the north Baltic sea¨is shared between Sweden and Finland ). St Martin options include: duty-free shopping for French luxury items, water sports, scuba diving, golf, horseback riding, tennis, and side trips to
Dominica
Here is a fantasy island of rain forest greenery and bloomery nestling alongside rugged mountain peaks, sometimes obscured by clouds and fog. Dominica was discovered by Christopher Columbus on a Sunday and gave the island the Spanish name for Sunday. The island's vast unspoiled rainforest, its countless rivers, and its amazing boiling lake, are some of the island's on-land attractions. But while it may be the "hiker's paradise", many avid divers have found it equally appealing for its gorgeous underwater world. Dominica has great mountain scenery - a 1500 meter high volcano, sparkling streams, waterfalls and lush green forests.
Dominica is
